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Ozzy Osbourne donates K-9 to Muncie, Ind., police department

September 29, 2009 | 10:27
pm

When the Muncie, Ind., police department decided to retire one of its K-9 police dogs, it was left with a dilemma: A pressing need for a new K-9, but no funds with which to pay for one. Enter...Ozzy Osbourne?

The rock star's 23-year-old son, Jack, had briefly worked with the Muncie police department while filming a little-loved and easily-forgotten TV show called "Armed and Famous." (The show featured celebrities, including La Toya Jackson and Erik Estrada in addition to the younger Osbourne, training to become reserve officers for the Muncie P.D.)

Only four episodes aired before "Armed and Famous" was unceremoniously canceled, but Osbourne had continued a friendly relationship with Sgt. Jay Turner of the Muncie P.D. When it came time to retire the less-than-creatively-named Rover, a 13-year-old German shepherd dog who had served the police department for about nine years, Turner thought of Jack.

Once he floated the idea of the elder Osbourne (whose history with animals is certainly spotty, but whose love of dogs has been well-documented) paying for a new dog -- to the tune of $10,000 -- Jack leapt at the idea, Turner said. "There was no hesitation. He talked to [Ozzy] and called me back in 10 minutes and it was a done deal," the sergeant told Muncie's Star Press newspaper. "[Jack] said, 'You guys have a new dog.' " The new K-9, which the department says it will name Ozzy, is currently being trained at a Denver kennel. Osbourne's generous donation will pay for Ozzy's purchase, and a separate group plans to raise funds to cover food, veterinary costs and other expenses, in order to keep taxpayer dollars from being spent on the animal.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo: Ozzy Osbourne with one of his own dogs, Lilly, at his Beverly Hills home in 2006. Credit: Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times